Jerk. “Thanks,” I said half-heartedly, heading in that direction.
An outdoor structure with steps leading up the side to a concrete block came into view, along with train tracks. I ascended the steps and found myself at the ticket office.
“One way to primary section A,” I requested.
The demon behind the counter nodded. “And how would you like to pay today?”
“Shit.” I patted myself down. “I don’t have anything to trade.”
“You have blood, don’t you?”
Indeed, I did. Even though the man I was possessing was not awake, I whispered an apology and held an arm out. The demon behind the counter took a knife from the desk and sliced my arm, the blood pouring into an open jar below. Once thedemon was satisfied with the amount, he slapped a bandage on my arm, hardly doing the work to conceal the cut.
“There we are. Good. Garficious has been collecting blood.”
“Why?” I couldn’t help but ask.
The demon shrugged. “Something for the Queen.” He pointed to the tracks. “Next train is in five minutes.”
I went to the platform to wait, boarding the train when it arrived and riding it all the way to the start of the line. Primary section A. Section A temporarily housed new prisoners, but it also contained all of the official offices. This included the senate meeting room, where the Queen ran meetings, the throne room, and the Queen’s official quarters. It also was where the Office of Official Possession was. Meaning, this was where the list was.
This part of Hell was built in stone, like a medieval castle, the floor tiled with mismatched stones and walls lined with flaming torches. I hadn’t been here since right after I became a demon. Back then, King Adramalech was still in charge and the place had a bit more flourish, with carpets stretching along the long hallways and expensive art hung along the walls in line with the torches. Now, the floors and walls were bare besides the torches. It was colder. I had never met the Queen, but this was reason alone to fear her.
This place was also a lot more crowded, with official-looking demons striding through the halls, all appearing to be on important missions. I put my head down and tried to charge forward through the crowds, but was halted when a hand grabbed my shoulder.
The owner of the hand sighed. I spun around to seeGarficious with a single, neat eyebrow raised. “Tonkitgrol. I suppose I should be flattered by your visit despite my warning for you to stay away, but must you do it looking so haggard and suspicious?”
“I don’t… Do I really lookhaggard?”
“Very. Do tell, what are you doing down here?”
“I, uh, the list? Of humans not to possess. I wanted to add a name. The woman I was possessing before.”
“The blonde one?” He narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
“She’s deathly allergic to bees. We got stung and, well, she blew up like a balloon. I had to leave her.”
His eyes narrowed thinner. “Why is she still alive?”
“I…someone saved her.”
His shoulders dropped as his head hung in pure distaste. “Fine. I suppose I don’t care anyway. Adopt as many human pets as you want. Everyone else seems to.” He gestured to a wooden door around the corner. “The office is there. Add her name to the list at the front.”
“Thanks,” I said, trying not to scurry away. Garficious gave me the creeps. Someone that close to the King and Queen was someone to be feared, especially when they were so nonchalant. Something maniacal must have been lurking inside him, waiting to burst out.
I opened the door and spotted the list. It was a large black book resting on the counter of a reception desk. I gestured to the book when I saw the brunette woman behind the desk peer up at me, her curly hair pulled into an elegant bun atop her head with sharp emerald hairpins sticking out of it. Her dark eyesnarrowed suspiciously as she failed to greet me, clearly waiting for me to speak first.
“Garficious said I could add a name?”
“Go for it,” she said in a bored voice and went back to shuffling through the scrolls in front of her.
I opened the book and looked around for a pen. The woman behind the desk handed me one, shocking me when our hands briefly brushed.
“Static electricity,” she commented interestedly. “Have you been to the Mountain recently?”
My body went stiff. “Oh, uh, yeah. I landed there by mistake.”
The bored voice was back when she said, “Fascinating.”
